Tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

Novel tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives (TBEs) as well as the process for the preparation of such TBEs are provided. Also provided are methods for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, Parkinson&#39;s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotropic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and all other diseases whose pathogenesis is believed to involve excessive production of either nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins or the overexpression of iNOS or COX-2 genes or gene products. Further, methods for the synthesis of the TBE compounds of the invention utilize cheap commercially available reagents and are highly cost effective and amenable to scale-up. Additional high efficiency synthetic methods that utilize novel intermediates as well as the synthesis of these intermediates are also provided. Furthermore, the invention also provides methods for designing novel and water-soluble TBEs.

The present application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/672,449, filed Feb. 7, 2007, now U.S. Pat. 7,678,830, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/345,053 filed Jan. 15, 2003, now U.S. Pat. 7,176,237, which claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/348,594 filed Jan. 15, 2002; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/376,040, filed Apr. 26, 2002 and provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/402,966, filed Aug. 13, 2002.

This invention was made with government support under grant number 1R01CA78814 awarded by the National Institutes of Health and National Foundation for Cancer Research. The government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention provides novel tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives (TBEs), as well as the process for the preparation of such TBEs, for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotropic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other diseases whose pathogenesis is believed to involve excessive production of either nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins.

II. Description of Related Art

One of the major needs in clinical oncology is the development of effective and safe new agents for chemoprevention. In particular, there is a need for chemopreventative agents targeted at mechanisms known to be involved in the process of carcinogenesis. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the study of mechanisms of inflammation that relate to carcinogenesis and in the use of such mechanisms as the basis for development of new chemopreventative agents.

The concept that inflammation and carcinogenesis are related phenomena has been the subject of many studies that have attempted to link these two processes in a mechanistic fashion (Sporn and Roberts, 1986; Ohshima and Bartsch, 1994). The enzymes that mediate the constitutive synthesis of NO and prostaglandins from arginine and arachidonate, respectively, have relative little significance for either inflammation or carcinogenesis. In contrast, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and inducible cycloxygenase (COX-2) both have critical roles in the response of tissues to injury or infectious agents (Moncada et al., 1991; Nathan and Xie, 1994; Tamir and Tannebaum, 1996). These inducible enzymes are essential components of the inflammatory process, the ultimate repair of injury, and carcinogenesis. While physiological activity of iNOS and COX-2 may provide a definite benefit to the organism, aberrant or excessive expression of either iNOS or COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many disease processes, particularly in chronic degeneration of the central nervous system, carcinogenesis, septic shock, cardiomyopathy, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The need for new agents to prevent and treat cancer is readily evident from the continuing high mortality rates for the common forms of epithelial cancer, such as carcinoma of the lung, colon, breast, and prostate. As methods of genetic testing can identify increasing numbers of people who are at high risk for the development of cancers, it becomes increasingly important to discover new pharmacologic agents that can be used interventionally to prevent this outcome, well before the occurrence of malignant invasive disease. The same is true for degenerative diseases, inflammatory diseases and immune diseases that involve increased NO or prostaglandin production. Therefore, the art lacks compounds for the chemoprevention of cancer and the other diseases or conditions described above that can be produced by efficient and cost effective methods and are also easy to administer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes defects in the art and provides compounds for the treatment as well as chemoprevention of cancer and the other diseases or conditions that result from the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins or the overexpression of iNOS and COX-2. The invention advantageously provides compounds and for use in the prevention and treatment of the above described conditions that are water soluble thereby allowing the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations that are easy to administer. The invention also provides methods for the synthesis of these compounds by that are efficient, cheap and amenable to scale up for large scale manufacturing.

Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the formula:

wherein R₁ is CN, or CO₂H; R₂ is ═O; R₃ is H, CH₃, CO₂H, CO₂Me, CONH₂, CN, or (CH₂)_(n)—R₁₀; R₄ is H, OH, OAc, CH₃, CO₂H, CO₂Me, CONH₂, CN, or (CH₂)_(n)—R₁₀; R₅ is H, CH₂, CH₂CH₃, or part of a double-bond A; R₆ is H, CH₃, CO₂H, CO₂Me, CONH₂, CN, CH₂X, CH₂OAc, CH₂OH, CHO, CH₂NH₂, (CH₂)_(n)—R₁₀, CO₂R (esters), —CH₂OR (esters and ethers), CH₂OSiMe₂(t-Bu), —CONR₁R₂ (amides), CH₂NHCOOR (carbamates) or CH₂NHCOO(t-Bu); R₇ is H, ═O; R₈ is H, OH, forms an epoxide with R₉, or forms part of a double-bond B; R₉ is H, forms an epoxide with R₈, or forms part of a double-bond B; R₁₀ is CH₃, CO₂H, CO₂CH₃, CO₂CH₂CH₃, CONH₂, CN, NH₂, CH(CH₃)₂, NR₁₁R₁₂, pyrrolidine, piperidine, pyrazine, imidazole, pyrazole, triazole, tetrazole, substituted at N with R₁₃, or 1,4-oxazine, where R₁₁, R₁₂, and R₁₃ are alkyl; X is F, Cl, or Br; n is 0-20; and A & B independently signify a single-bond or double-bond; or any optically active form thereof such as optical isomers (−)-, (+)-; or a (±)-racemic compound; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds, their derivatives or analogs, as well as their isomers, stereoisomers, optical isomers, racemic compounds, and mixtures thereof, are provided and called tricyclic-bis-enone (TBE) compounds and are also referred to as the “TBE compounds of the invention” or “compounds of the invention.”

In some specific embodiments, the invention provides the following TBE compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or formulations thereof:

-   (±)-TBE-1 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-2 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-3 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-4 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-5 which has the formula:

-   (−)-TBE-5 which has the formula:

-   (+)-TBE-5 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-6 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-7 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-8 which has the formula

-   (±)-TBE-9 which has the formula:

-   (±)-TBE-10 which has the formula:

-   (±) TBE-12 which has the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or formulation thereof.

Further provided by the invention are TBE compounds, TBE-13-19, optical isomers, stereoisomers, racemic forms, enentiomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and formulations thereof.

Thus, there is provided a compound (±)-TBE-13 which has the formula:

wherein R═CH₂OH,

-   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.     Compound (±)-TBE-14 which has the formula:

wherein R═CN

-   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.     Compound (±)-TBE-15 which has the formula:

wherein R═CH₂OSiMe₂(t-Bu), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Compound (±)-TBE-16 which has the formula:

wherein R═CH₂NHCOO(t-Bu),

-   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.     Compound (±)-TBE-17 which has the formula:

wherein R═CH₂NH₂,

-   or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.     Compound (±)-TBE-18 is an example of a pharmaceutically acceptable     salt of TBE 17 and has the formula:

wherein R═CH₂NH₂.HCl. Compound (±)-TBE-19 which has the formula:

wherein R═CO₂H, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

One of skill in the art will recognize that or optically active forms such as the (−)-, and (+)-, forms; (+) and (−) enantiomers; (±) racemic forms of all the above TBE compounds and their derivatives are also provided. The invention also contemplates that all these TBE compounds and isomers and stereoisomers thereof can further be constituted into pharmaceutically acceptable formulations.

Also provided are various tricyclic-bis-enone compositions, comprising one or more of the compounds described above, effective for inhibiting IFN-γ-induced NO production in macrophages or RAW cells, the composition having an IC₅₀ value of at least less than about 0.7 μM. In specific embodiments, the compositions may have an IC₅₀ value of at least less than about 0.1, 0.05, 0.01, 0.005, or 0.001 μM be optically pure, be predominantly the (+) enantiomer, predominantly the (−) enantiomer, or a racemic mixture. The composition may further be water soluble.

The invention also provides methods of treating a subject having a condition or disease that is characterized by the excess of NO or one or more prostaglandin comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more of the compounds set out above. The subject may a human or an animal. In some embodiments, the disease may be a cancer such as, cancer of the brain, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, lymph node, small intestine, pancreas, blood cell, bone, colon, stomach, bread, endometrium, prostate, testicle, ovary, central nervous system, skin, head and neck, esophagus, or bone marrow. In other embodiments, the disease or condition that afflicts the subject may be an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. In yet other embodiments, the disease may be a neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The subject may also be a human or an animal that may only be at risk for the development of cancer, inflammatory disease, or neurodegenerative disease and the treatment is therefore prophylactic. In general, the therapeutic and prophylactic methods of the invention are applicable to a subject that either has or has a propensity to develop a disease or a condition that may have a pathogenesis involving the excessive production of nitric oxide or prostaglandins or the excessive expression of the iNOS or the COX-2 genes.

In another embodiment, the invention provides methods for preventing or treating a disorder characterized by the overexpression of iNOS or COX-2 genes comprising administering to a subject or a patient with such a disorder a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one or more of compounds described above.

Also provided are methods of modulating transcription or translation of iNOS or COX-2 genes in a subject comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition containing one or more of the compounds described above.

In yet other embodiments, the invention provides methods of modulating excessive nitric oxide or prostaglandin formation in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition containing one or more of the compounds described above.

In yet other embodiments, the invention provides several methods for preparing the compounds described above. These methods are described in detail in the section entitled Examples. The methods of the invention for producing TBE compounds are cost-effective, efficient and amenable to large-scale manufacturing.

In still other embodiments, the invention provides yet other efficient and cost-effective methods comprising the use of novel tricyclic intermediates for the synthesis of the TBE compounds of the invention. These intermediates and their synthesis are described in detail in Example 2. Methods for synthesis of the TBE compounds using these intermediates are detailed in Examples 2 & 3. Thus, in some embodiments the following intermediates are provided:

Intermediate compound (23) of the formula:

-   also called     (±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Decahydro-1,1,4a,8a-tetramethylphenanthren-2(1H)-one.     Intermediate compound (29a) of the formula:

wherein R═CO₂H.

-   also called     (±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-1,2,3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Dodecahydro-1,1,4a-trimethyl-2-oxo-phenanthrene-8a-carboxylic     acid,     Intermediate compound (29b) of the formula:

wherein R═CO₂Me.

-   also called methyl ester of     (±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-1,2,3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Dodecahydro-1,1,4a-trimethyl-2-oxo-phenanthrene-8a-carboxylic     acid.     Intermediate compound (29c) of the formula:

wherein R═CH₂OH.

-   also called     (±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Decahydro-8a-hydroxymethyl-1,1,4a-trimethylphenanthren-2(1H)-one.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

FIG. 1. TBE-3 Suppresses the Formation of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA in RAW 264.7 Cells

FIG. 2. Inhibition of Estrogen-Stimulated Growth of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells (ER-positive) by TBE-3 and 5

FIG. 3. Inhibition of Estrogen-Stimulated Growth of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells (ER-positive) by TBE-9

FIG. 4. TBE Compounds Inhibit Proliferation of NRP-152 Prostate Cells

FIG. 5. In vivo Anti-Inflammation Activity of TBE-9 in CD-1 Mice

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

I. The Present Invention

Within the past few years, there has been increasing interest in the development of selective COX-2 and iNOS inhibitors for prevention of cancer, especially in the colon. However, there are various types of cancers as well as inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases characterized by COX-2 and iNOS overexpression and the art still lacks effective agents that can be synthesized by cost-effective methods and are suitable for pharmaceutical formulation. The present invention provides compounds that are tricyclic-bis-enone (TBE) derivatives that block the formation of the enzymes COX-2 and iNOS. The TBEs represent a novel class of agents capable of suppressing the expression of the COX-2 and iNOS genes. Thus, the use of these compounds for the treatment of cancer and other diseases characterized by COX-2 and iNOS overexpression are provided. In addition, the present invention also provides several novel and cost-effective methods for the synthesis of TBEs, some of which utilize novel intermediates.

II. Definitions

As used herein, the term “organic moiety” is intended to include carbon based functional groups such as alkyl, alkylamino, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, aryloxy, alkylthio, and alkylcarboxyl.

As used herein, the term “inorganic moiety” is intended to include non carbon-based groups or elements such as hydrogen, halo, amino, nitro, thiol, and hydroxyl.

As used herein, the term “electron withdrawing moiety” is known in the art, and refers to a group which has a greater electron-withdrawing than hydrogen. A variety of electron-withdrawing groups are known, and include halogens (e.g., fluoro, chloro, bromo, and iodo groups), nitro, cyano, —NR₃ ⁺, —SRR₂ ⁺, —NHR₃ ⁺, —SO₂R, —SO₂Ar, —COOH, —OAr, —COOR, —OR, —COR, —SH, —SR, —OH, —Ar, and —CH₂CR₂, where Ar is aryl, and R represents any appropriate organic or inorganic moiety and, preferably, alkyl moiety.

As used herein, the term “halosubstituted alkyl moieties” is intended to include alkyl moieties which have halogen moieties in the place of at least one hydrogen. As used herein, the term “amino” means —NH₂; the term “nitro” means —NO₂; the term “halogen” designates —F, —Cl, —Br or —I; the term “thiol” means SH; and the term “hydroxyl” means —OH. Thus, the term “alkylamino” as used herein means an alkyl group, as defined above, having an amino group attached thereto. The term “alkylthio” refers to an alkyl group, as defined above, having a sulfhydryl group attached thereto. The term “alkylcarboxyl” as used herein means an alkyl group, as defined above, having a carboxyl group attached thereto.

The term “aromatic group” is intended to include unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons containing one or more rings. Aromatic groups include 5- and 6-membered single-ring groups which may include from zero to four heteroatoms, for example, benzene, pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, triazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine and pyrimidine, and the like. The aromatic ring may be substituted at one or more ring positions with, for example, a halogen, a lower alkyl, a lower alkenyl, a lower alkoxy, a lower alkylthio, a lower alkylamino, a lower alkylcarboxyl, a nitro, a hydroxyl, —CF₃, —CN, or the like.

The term “alkyl” refers to the saturated aliphatic groups, including straight-chain alkyl groups, branched-chain alkyl groups, cycloalkyl (alicyclic) groups, alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups.

Moreover, the term “alkyl” (including “lower alkyl”) as used throughout the specification and claims is intended to include both “unsubstituted alkyls” and “substituted alkyls,” the latter of which refers to alkyl moieties having moieties replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such moieties can include, for example, halogen, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), amidino, imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfate, sulfonato, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the moieties substituted on the hydrocarbon chain can themselves be substituted, if appropriate. Cycloalkyls can be further substituted, e.g., with the moieties described above. An “aralkyl” moiety is an alkyl substituted with an aryl (e.g., phenylmethyl(benzyl)).

The term “alkoxy,” as used herein, refers to a moiety having the structure —O-alkyl, in which the alkyl moiety is described above.

The term “aryl” as used herein includes 5- and 6-membered single-ring aromatic groups that may include from zero to four heteroatoms, for example, unsubstituted or substituted benzene, pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, triazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine and pyrimidine, and the like. Aryl groups also include polycyclic fused aromatic groups such as naphthyl, quinolyl, indolyl, and the like. The aromatic ring can be substituted at one or more ring positions with such moieties, e.g., as described above for alkyl groups. Preferred aryl groups include unsubstituted and substituted phenyl groups.

The term “aryloxy,” as used herein, refers to a group having the structure —O-aryl, in which the aryl moiety is as defined above.

The term “amino,” as used herein, refers to an unsubstituted or substituted moiety of the formula —NR_(a) R_(b), in which R_(a) and R_(b) are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or heterocyclyl, or R_(a) and R_(b), taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a cyclic moiety having from 3 to 8 atoms in the ring. Thus, the term “amino” is intended to include cyclic amino moieties such as piperidinyl or pyrrolidinyl groups, unless otherwise stated. An “amino-substituted amino group” refers to an amino group in which at least one of R_(a) and R_(b), is further substituted with an amino group.

As used herein, the term “subject” or “patient” is intended to include living organisms in which certain conditions as described herein can occur or which are at a high-risk for the occurrence of such conditions. Examples include humans, monkeys, cows, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, mice, rats, and transgenic species thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the subject or patient is a primate. In an even more preferred embodiment, the primate is a human. A subject or patient can be a human suffering from or at a high-risk of developing a cancer, an inflammatory disease or a neurodegenerative disease. Other examples of subjects include experimental animals such as mice, rats, dogs, cats, goats, sheep, pigs, and cows. The experimental animal can be an animal model for a disorder, e.g., a transgenic mouse with an Alzheimer's-type neuropathology. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a composition in a free base, neutral or salt form. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the salts formed with the free carboxyl groups derived from inorganic bases such as for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium or ferric hydroxides; or such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, histidine or procaine.

As used herein, the term “IC₅₀” refers to an inhibitory dose which is 50% of the maximum response obtained.

As used herein, the term “water soluble” means that the compound dissolves in water at least to the extent of 0.010 mole/liter or is classified as soluble according to literature precedence.

As used herein, predominantly one enantiomer means that the compound contains at least 95% of one enantiomer, or more preferably at least 98% of one enantiomer, or most preferably at least 99% of one enantiomer. For example, a compound may contain 99% (+) TBE-5 and 1% (−) TBE-5.

As used herein the specification, “a” or “an” may mean one or more. As used herein in the claim(s), when used in conjunction with the word “comprising,” the words “a” or “an” may mean one or more than one. As used herein “another” may mean at least a second or more.

Other abbreviations used herein are as follows: DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; NGF, nerve growth factor; IBMX, isobutylmethylxanthine; FBS, fetal bovine serum; GPDH, glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; RXR, retinoid X receptor; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; LPS, bacterial endotoxic lipopolysaccharide; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; MTT, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; TCA, trichloroacetic acid.

III. Synthesis of TBEs

Although triterpenoids are widely used for medicinal purposes in many Asian countries, this class of molecules has not had an impact on the practice of Western medicine. Triterpenoids are formed in nature by the cyclization of squalene with the retention of all 30 carbon atoms in molecules such as oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA). Although OA and UA are known to have numerous pharmacological activities, including chemoprevention of cancer and anti-inflammatory activity in experimental animals, the potency of these naturally occurring molecules is relatively weak. Chemical synthesis of new steroid analogs has provided many useful derivatives that are more potent and specific than the natural parent structures. With this as a model, and considering the known anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities of OA and UA (Huang et al., 1994; Nishino et al., 1988; Hirota et al., 1990; Singh et al., 1992), the present inventors have synthesized and characterized a series of synthetic triterpenoid analogs as potential inhibitors of inflammation and carcinogenesis, using inhibition of NO production induced by interferon-γ in mouse macrophages (iNOS assay) as a preliminary screening assay system (Ding et al., 1990; Bogdan et al., 1992).

TBEs can be synthesized from cheap commercially available reagents. TBEs with various functionalities at various positions can be designed rationally as shown in the Examples. Water-soluble TBEs can be designed and synthesized as described in Example 6, since the hydrophobic part of TBEs is smaller than that of triterpenoids. The use of water-soluble compounds would reduce undesirable pharmacokinetics, limitations of administration methods, and considerable difficulty in developing formulations for clinical use. Efficient methods of synthesis of TBE's utilizing novel intermediates 1, 2a, 2b and 2c are also provided in Examples 2 & 3.

IV. TBE Administration

The compounds of the present invention may be administered by a variety of methods, e.g., orally or by injection (e.g. subcutaneous, intravenous, intraperitoneal, etc.). Depending on the route of administration, the active compound may be coated in a material to protect the compound from the action of acids and other natural conditions which may inactivate the compound. In the case of cancer therapy, the agents may be administered intra-tumorally, circumferential to a tumor mass, locally to the tumor vasculature or lypmphatic system, regionally or systemically. They may also be administered to a resected tumor bed, for example, by syringing or by a post-operative catheter with continuous perfusion/infusion.

To administer the therapeutic compound by other than parenteral administration, it may be necessary to coat the compound with, or co-administer the compound with, a material to prevent its inactivation. For example, the therapeutic compound may be administered to a patient in an appropriate carrier, for example, liposomes, or a diluent. Pharmaceutically acceptable diluents include saline and aqueous buffer solutions. Liposomes include water-in-oil-in-water CGF emulsions as well as conventional liposomes (Strej an et al., 1984).

The therapeutic compound may also be administered parenterally, intraperitoneally, intraspinally, or intracerebrally. Dispersions can be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereof and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations may contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. In all cases, the composition must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (such as, glycerol, propylene glycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars, sodium chloride, or polyalcohols such as mannitol and sorbitol, in the composition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent which delays absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate or gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the therapeutic compound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or a combination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the therapeutic compound into a sterile carrier which contains a basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the active ingredient (i.e., the therapeutic compound) plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

The therapeutic compound can be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or an assimilable edible carrier. The therapeutic compound and other ingredients may also be enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, compressed into tablets, or incorporated directly into the subject's diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the therapeutic compound may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. The percentage of the therapeutic compound in the compositions and preparations may, of course, be varied. The amount of the therapeutic compound in such therapeutically useful compositions is such that a suitable dosage will be obtained.

It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subjects to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of therapeutic compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on (a) the unique characteristics of the therapeutic compound and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such a therapeutic compound for the treatment of a selected condition in a patient.

Active compounds are administered at a therapeutically effective dosage sufficient to treat a condition associated with a condition in a patient. A “therapeutically effective amount” preferably reduces the amount of symptoms of the condition in the infected patient by at least about 20%, more preferably by at least about 40%, even more preferably by at least about 60%, and still more preferably by at least about 80% relative to untreated subjects. For example, the efficacy of a compound can be evaluated in an animal model system that may be predictive of efficacy in treating the disease in humans, such as the model systems shown in the examples and drawings.

V. TBE Uses and Mechanisms

The TBE compounds of the present invention have utility for prevention and treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and all other diseases whose pathogenesis is believed to involve excessive production of either nitric oxide or prostaglandins.

In particular, the present invention may be applied to therapy of such cancers as breast, prostate, lung (SCLC and NSCLC), brain, head & neck, esophagus, trachea, stomach, colon, rectum, uterus, cervix, prostate, liver, pancreas, skin, blood and lymphatic system, testes and ovary.

The aberrant or excessive expression of either iNOS or COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many disease processes, including carcinogenesis in the colon. Thus, overexpression of the gene for COX-2 is an early and central event in colon carcinogenesis (Prescott and White, 1996; Dubois et al., 1996). Mice with defects in the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene develop large numbers of intestinal polyps at an early age, and marked elevations in COX-2 enzyme levels have been found in these polyps. These animal findings correlate with the finding of elevated levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein in many human primary colon cancers and colon cancer cell lines (Prescott and White, 1996), and it is believed that this elevation in COX-2 leads to a suppression of apoptosis, which would ordinarily lead to death of preneoplastic cells (Tsujii and DuBois, 1996).

The functional relevance of COX-2 to intestinal tumorigenesis has been demonstrated by knockout of the COX-2 gene and the subsequent mating of mice bearing this knockout with polyp-forming mice bearing lesions in the APC gene; the COX-2 knockout caused a dramatic diminution in the number of polyps in the offspring (Oshima et al., 1996). Furthermore, treatment of experimental animals with either selective COX-2 inhibitors or non-selective COX-1/COX-2 inhibitors has been reported to be a potent approach to chemoprevention of intestinal cancer (Marnett, 1992; Oshima et al., 1996; Boolbol et al., 1996; Reddy et al., 1996; Sheng et al., 1997). As for the role of iNOS in carcinogenesis, it is clear that NO is a potent mutagen (Tamir and Tannebaum, 1996), and that nitric oxide can also activate COX-2 (Salvemini et al., 1993; 1994). Furthermore, there is a marked increase in iNOS in rat colon tumors induced by the carcinogen, azoxymethane (Takahashi et al., 1997).

Numerous studies by others have suggested an important role of NF-κB in regulating genes involved in apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis (Baeuerle et al., 1996; Baldwin, 1996; Bargou et al., 1997; Barnes et al., 1997; Ghosh et al., 1998; Barkett et al., 1999; Pahl et al., 1999; Rayet et al., 1999; Huang et al., 2000). Aberrant expression of genes of the NF-κB complex has been found in many human tumors. Most recently it has been suggested that NF-κB activity may lead to enhancement of the cell cycle by its ability to activate cyclin D1 (Guttridge et al., 1999; Hinz et al., 1999; Joyce et al., 1999).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to be an inflammatory condition of the central nervous system (Williams, Ulvestad and Hickey, 1994; Merrill and Beneviste, 1996; Genain and Hauser, 1997). Inflammatory, oxidative, or immune mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and MS (Bagasra et al., 1995; McGeer and McGeer, 1995; Simonian and Coyle, 1996; Kaltschmidt et al., 1997). Both reactive astrocytes and activated microglia have been implicated in causation of NDD/NID. There has been a particular emphasis on microglia as cells that synthesize both NO and prostaglandins as products of the respective enzymes, iNOS and COX-2. De novo formation of these enzymes may be driven by inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ or interleukin-1. In turn, excessive production of NO may lead to inflammatory cascades and/or oxidative damage in cells and tissues of many organs, including neurons and oligodendrocytes of the nervous system, with consequent manifestations in AD and MS, and possible PD and ALS (Coyle and Puttfarcken, 1993; Goodwin et al., 1995; Beal, 1996; Merrill and Benvenist, 1996; Simonian and Coyle, 1996; Vodovotz et al., 1996). Epidemiologic data indicate that chronic use of NSAID's which block synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonate, markedly lower the risk for development of AD (McGeer et al., 1996; Stewart et al., 1997). Thus, agents that block formation of NO and prostaglandins, may be used in approaches to prevention and treatment of NDD.

Further disclosed herein are the synthesis and biological activities of new TBE compounds that have important properties including (1) the ability to induce and differentiate both malignant and non-malignant cells; (2) activity at sub-micromolar or nanomolar levels as an inhibitor of proliferation of many malignant or premalignant inhibitors of proliferation of many malignant or premalignant cells; (3) significantly greater activity than most compounds in suppressing the de novo synthesis of the inflammatory enzymes, iNOS and COX-2; (4) water solubility; and (5) cheap production. TBEs also are important for the development of new chemopreventative agents, as well as relevant to therapy of malignancy itself.

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology, microbiology, recombinant DNA, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, for example, Sambrook, J. et al. (1989; Ausubel et al. 1995; Glover, 1985; Gait, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195; Hames and Higgins, 1984; the treatise, Mayer and Walker, 1987; Weir and Blackwell, 1986; Miller, 1972, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).

VI. Combination Therapies

In addition to being used as a monotherapy, the TBE's of the present invention will also find use in combination therapies. Such combination therapies may include the use of any other inhibitor(s) of COX-2 and/or iNOS, other anti-inflammatory agent(s) one or more anti-cancer therapies, or one or more drugs used to treat or prevent a neurodegenerative condition as discussed in detail below. Such medications and therapies are also well known to one of skill in the art.

An “anti-cancer” agent is capable of negatively affecting cancer in a patient, for example, by killing cancer cells, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, reducing the growth rate of cancer cells, reducing the incidence or number of metastases, reducing tumor size, inhibiting tumor growth, reducing the blood supply to a tumor or cancer cells, promoting an immune response against cancer cells or a tumor, preventing or inhibiting the progression of cancer, or increasing the lifespan of a subject with cancer. More generally, these other compositions would be provided in a combined amount effective to kill or inhibit proliferation of the cell. This process may involve contacting the cells with the TBE and the other agent(s) at the same time. This may be achieved by contacting the cell with a single composition or pharmacological formulation that includes both agents, or by contacting the cell with two distinct compositions or formulations, at the same time, wherein one composition includes the TBE and the other includes the second agent(s).

Alternatively, the TBE therapy may precede or follow the other agent treatment by intervals ranging from minutes to weeks. In embodiments where the other agent and expression construct are applied separately to the cell, one would generally ensure that a significant period of time did not expire between the time of each delivery, such that the agent and the TBE would still be able to exert an advantageously combined effect on the cell. In such instances, it is contemplated that one may contact the cell with both modalities within about 12-24 h of each other and, more preferably, within about 6-12 h of each other. In some situations, it may be desirable to extend the time period for treatment significantly, however, where several d (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7) to several wk (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8) lapse between the respective administrations.

Various combinations may be employed, TBE therapy is “A” and the secondary agent, such as an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-cancer agent, or an agent used to treat a neurodegenerative condition, is “B”:

A/B/A B/A/B  B/B/A A/A/B A/B/B  B/A/A A/B/B/B B/A/B/B B/B/B/A B/B/A/B A/A/B/B A/B/A/B A/B/B/A B/B/A/A B/A/B/A B/A/A/B A/A/A/B B/A/A/A A/B/A/A A/A/B/A Other combinations are also contemplated.

Administration of the TBE compounds of the present invention to a patient will follow general protocols for the administration of chemotherapeutics, taking into account the toxicity, if any, of the drug. It is expected that the treatment cycles would be repeated as necessary. It also is contemplated that various standard therapies, as well as surgical intervention, may be applied in combination with the described hyperproliferative cell therapies.

VII. Adjunct Cancer Therapies

In the case of cancer treatment with the TBE agents of the present invention, it is contemplated that other cancer therapies used in the art will be used in combination with the TBE compounds. Tumor cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy agents represents a major problem in clinical oncology. One goal of current cancer research is to find ways to improve the efficacy of chemo- and radiotherapy by combining it with gene therapy. For example, the herpes simplex-thymidine kinase (HS-tk) gene, when delivered to brain tumors by a retroviral vector system, successfully induced susceptibility to the antiviral agent ganciclovir (Culver et al., 1992). In the context of the present invention, it is contemplated that TBE therapy could be used similarly in conjunction with chemotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic, or immunotherapeutic intervention, in addition to other pro-apoptotic or cell cycle regulating agents, as discussed below.

a. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapies include the used of agents such as cisplatin (CDDP), carboplatin, procarbazine, mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide, camptothecin, ifosfamide, melphalan, chlorambucil, busulfan, nitrosurea, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, bleomycin, plicomycin, mitomycin, etoposide (VP16), tamoxifen, raloxifene, estrogen receptor binding agents, taxol, gemcitabien, navelbine, farnesyl-protein tansferase inhibitors, transplatinum, 5-fluorouracil, vincristin, vinblastin and methotrexate, or any analog or derivative variant of the foregoing.

b. Radiotherapy

Other factors that cause DNA damage and have been used extensively include what are commonly known as γ-rays, X-rays, and/or the directed delivery of radioisotopes to tumor cells. Other forms of DNA damaging factors are also contemplated such as microwaves and UV-irradiation. It is most likely that all of these factors effect a broad range of damage on DNA, on the precursors of DNA, on the replication and repair of DNA, and on the assembly and maintenance of chromosomes. Dosage ranges for X-rays range from daily doses of 50 to 200 roentgens for prolonged periods of time (3 to 4 wk), to single doses of 2000 to 6000 roentgens. Dosage ranges for radioisotopes vary widely, and depend on the half-life of the isotope, the strength and type of radiation emitted, and the uptake by the neoplastic cells.

The terms “contacted” and “exposed,” when applied to a cell, are used herein to describe the process by which a therapeutic construct and a chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic agent are delivered to a target cell or are placed in direct juxtaposition with the target cell. To achieve cell killing or stasis, both agents are delivered to a cell in a combined amount effective to kill the cell or prevent it from dividing.

c. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapeutics, generally, rely on the use of immune effector cells and molecules to target and destroy cancer cells. The immune effector may be, for example, an antibody specific for some marker on the surface of a tumor cell. The antibody alone may serve as an effector of therapy or it may recruit other cells to actually effect cell killing. The antibody also may be conjugated to a drug or toxin (chemotherapeutic, radionuclide, ricin A chain, cholera toxin, pertussis toxin, etc.) and serve merely as a targeting agent. Alternatively, the effector may be a lymphocyte carrying a surface molecule that interacts, either directly or indirectly, with a tumor cell target. Various effector cells include cytotoxic T cells and NK cells.

Immunotherapy, thus, could be used as part of a combined therapy, in conjunction with TBE therapy. Generally, the tumor cell must bear some marker that is amenable to targeting, i.e., is not present on the majority of other cells. Many tumor markers exist and any of these may be suitable for targeting in the context of the present invention. Common tumor markers include carcinoembryonic antigen, prostate specific antigen, urinary tumor associated antigen, fetal antigen, tyrosinase (p97), gp68, TAG-72, HMFG, Sialyl Lewis Antigen, MucA, MucB, PLAP, estrogen receptor, laminin receptor, erb B and p155.

d. Gene Therapy

In yet another embodiment, the secondary treatment is a secondary gene therapy in which a therapeutic polynucleotide is administered before, after, or at the same time a TBE. Therapeutic genes may include an antisense version of an inducer of cellular proliferation (sometimes called an oncogene), an inhibitor of cellular proliferation (sometimes called a tumor suppressor), or an inducer of programmed cell death (sometimes called a pro-apoptotic gene).

e. Surgery

Approximately 60% of persons with cancer will undergo surgery of some type, which includes preventative, diagnostic or staging, curative and palliative surgery. Curative surgery is a cancer treatment that may be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as the treatment of the present invention, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy and/or alternative therapies.

Curative surgery includes resection in which all or part of cancerous tissue is physically removed, excised, and/or destroyed. Tumor resection refers to physical removal of at least part of a tumor. In addition to tumor resection, treatment by surgery includes laser surgery, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, and microscopically controlled surgery (Mohs' surgery). It is further contemplated that the present invention may be used in conjunction with removal of superficial cancers, precancers, or incidental amounts of normal tissue.

Upon excision of part of all of cancerous cells, tissue, or tumor, a cavity may be formed in the body. Treatment may be accomplished by perfusion, direct injection or local application of the area with an additional anti-cancer therapy. Such treatment may be repeated, for example, every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days, or every 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks or every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months. These treatments may be of varying dosages as well.

f. Other Agents

It is contemplated that other agents may be used in combination with the present invention to improve the therapeutic efficacy of treatment. These additional agents include immunomodulatory agents, agents that affect the upregulation of cell surface receptors and GAP junctions, cytostatic and differentiation agents, inhibitors of cell adhesion, or agents that increase the sensitivity of the hyperproliferative cells to apoptotic inducers. Immunomodulatory agents include tumor necrosis factor; interferon alpha, beta, and gamma; IL-2 and other cytokines; F42K and other cytokine analogs; or MIP-1, MW-1beta, MCP-1, RANTES, and other chemokines. It is further contemplated that the upregulation of cell surface receptors or their ligands such as Fas/Fas ligand, DR4 or DR5/TRAIL would potentiate the apoptotic inducing abilities of the present invention by establishment of an autocrine or paracrine effect on hyperproliferative cells. Increases intercellular signaling by elevating the number of GAP junctions would increase the anti-hyperproliferative effects on the neighboring hyperproliferative cell population. In other embodiments, cytostatic or differentiation agents can be used in combination with the present invention to improve the anti-hyerproliferative efficacy of the treatments. Inhibitors of cell adehesion are contemplated to improve the efficacy of the present invention. Examples of cell adhesion inhibitors are focal adhesion kinase (FAKs) inhibitors and Lovastatin. It is further contemplated that other agents that increase the sensitivity of a hyperproliferative cell to apoptosis, such as the antibody c225, could be used in combination with the present invention to improve the treatment efficacy.

Hormonal therapy may also be used in conjunction with the present invention or in combination with any other cancer therapy previously described. The use of hormones may be employed in the treatment of certain cancers such as breast, prostate, ovarian, or cervical cancer to lower the level or block the effects of certain hormones such as testosterone or estrogen. This treatment is often used in combination with at least one other cancer therapy as a treatment option or to reduce the risk of metastases.

VIII. Adjunct Therapies for Inflammatory Diseases and Neurodegenerative Conditions

The TBE compounds and pharmaceutical formulations of the invention will also be sued in conjunction with agents used in the art to treat inflammatory and degenerative conditions that involve excessive NO and/or prostaglandins.

a. Anti-Inflammatory Agents

It is contemplated that other anti-inflammatory agents will be used in conjunction with the TBE derivatives of the current invention. Other COX inhibitors may be used, including arylcarboxylic acids (salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, diflunisal, choline magnesium trisalicylate, salicylate, benorylate, flufenamic acid, mefenamic acid, meclofenamic acid and triflumic acid), arylalkanoic acids (diclofenac, fenclofenac, alclofenac, fentiazac, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, fenoprofen, fenbufen, suprofen, indoprofen, tiaprofenic acid, benoxaprofen, pirprofen, tolmetin, zomepirac, clopinac, indomethacin and sulindac) and enolic acids (phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, azapropazone, feprazone, piroxicam, and isoxicam. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,395)

Histamine H2 receptor blocking agents may also be used in conjunction with the TBE derivatives of the current invention, including cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine.

b. Anti-Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as tacrine, donepizil, metrifonate and rivastigmine for the treatment of Alzheimers and other disease in conjunction with the TBE derivatives of the present invention is contemplated. Other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may be developed which may be used once approved include rivastigmine and metrifonate. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors increase the amount of neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the nerve terminal by decreasing its breakdown by the enzyme cholinesterase.

c. Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) can be used in conjunction with the TBE derivatives of the current invention for the treatment of Alzheimer's and other diseases. Estrogen is an excellent neuroprotective agent and effects multiple pathways that are involved in the pathogenisis of diseases that also involve excessive production of either nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins.

d. MAO-B Inhibitors

MAO-B Inhibitors such as selegilene (Eldepryl or Deprenyl) may be used in conjunction with the TBE derivatives of the current invention. Selegilene is used for Parkinson's disease and irreversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B). Monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that inactivates the monoamine neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine.

e. Pharmaceutical Agents for MS

Common drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS) that can be used in combination with the triterpeonoid derivatives include immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprine (Imuran), cladribine (Leustatin), and Clyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).

f. Supplements

Dietary and nutritional supplements with reported benefits for treatment or prevention of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, amyotropic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and all other diseases whose pathogenesis is believed to involve excessive production of either nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins, such as acetyl-L-carnitine, octacosanol, evening primrose oil, vitamin B6, tyrosine, phenylalanine, vitamin C, L-DOPA, or a combination of several antioxidants may be used in conjunction with the TBE derivatives of the current invention.

IX. Examples

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of TBE Compounds

a. Synthesis of Racemic TBE-3-5

The inventors' initial targets were the simple structures, TBE-3-5. Racemic TBE-3-5 were prepared in several steps via known compounds 4 (Dutcher et al., 1976), 5 (Honda et al., 1981), and 6 (Hirota et al., 1988) from 1-chloro-3-pentanone (1) [or ethyl vinyl ketone (2)] and 2-methyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (3) according to the synthetic route shown in Scheme 1.

(±)-Bicyclic enone 4 was synthesized by Robinson annulation of 2-methyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (3) with 1-chloro-3-pentanone (1) [or ethyl vinyl ketone (2)], followed by selective reduction with sodium borohydride (57% yield). Tricyclic enone 5 was obtained in 43% yield by Robinson annulation of 4 with ethyl vinyl ketone (2). Reductive methylation of 5 with methyl iodide in the presence of lithium in liquid ammonia gave 6 in 71% yield. Hydroxymethylene 7 was prepared in 92% yield from 6 with ethyl formate in the presence of sodium methoxide in benzene (Clinton et al., 1961). Isoxazole 8 was prepared in 73% yield by condensation of 7 and hydroxylamine hydrochloride in water and ethanol (Johnson et al., 1945). Cleavage of the isoxazole moiety of 8 with sodium methoxide gave nitrile 9 quantitatively. TBE-1 was prepared quantitatively by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) oxidation of 9. Acetylation of TBE-1 gave TBE-2 in 97% yield. Initially, allylic oxidation of TBE-2 with chromium trioxide and pyridine complex in methylene chloride did not give the desired compound, TBE-3. After various oxidizing agents were surveyed, the inventors found that a catalytic amount of chromium trioxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide in methylene chloride (Muzart, 1987) afforded TBE-3 and epoxide 10 in 47% and 29% yield, respectively. Alkaline hydrolysis of TBE-3 gave TBE-4 and 5 in 50% and 46% yield, respectively.

TBE-3-5 show significant inhibitory activity (IC₅₀=0.01 μM level) on NO production induced by IFN-γ in mouse macrophages (see Table 1). The potency of TBE-3-5 is similar to that of hydrocortisone although they do not act through the glucocorticoid receptor (data not shown). TBE-3-5 were more potent than TBE-1 and 2. This result suggests that the bis-enone structure is very important for high potency in even relatively simple molecules.

b. Synthesis of Optically Pure (−)-TBE-5 with the Same Configuration of Naturally Occurring Triterpenoids and Its Antipode, (+)-TBE-5

In many cases, one enantiomer has much more potency than the antipode. Therefore, one enantiomer of TBE-5 was expected to show more potency than racemic TBE-5. Moreover, it has become very important to create optically pure drugs rather than racemic ones to avoid undesired side effects that might be caused by the antipode. For both reasons, the inventors have synthesized optically pure (−)-TBE-5 with the same configuration of naturally occurring triterpenoids and its antipode, (+)-TBE-5. (Development of TBE-3 and 4 was excluded because they are expected to be unstable due to their β-hydroxy-ketone structures.)

Optically pure (4aS)-(+)- and (4aR)-(−)-1,4a-dimethyl-4,4a,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalene-2,5(3H,6H)-dione [(+)- and (−)-12] were prepared via achiral intermediate 11 from ethyl vinyl ketone (2) and 2-methyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (3) by a known method (Hagiwara et al., 1988). Enantiomer (+)-6 with the same configuration as naturally occurring triterpenoids and its antipode (−)-6 were synthesized from (−)- and (+)-12, respectively (Scheme 2) according to the same sequence as for racemic 6. The enantiomeric excess of each enantiomer was determined to be 90% by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR of the (−)-R-MTPA ester (Dale et al., 1969) derived from each enantiomer.

Both enantiomers of TBE-5 were synthesized from (+)- and (−)-6 according to the alternative route shown in Scheme 3. Acetylation of (+)-6 gave (+)-13 in quantitative yield. Allylic oxidation of (+)-13 gave (+)-14 in 79% yield. Deacetylation of (+)-14 with DBU gave (−)-15 in 97% yield (Srikrishna et al., 1998). Cyanation of the enolate of (−)-15 with p-TsCN in THF gave (−)-16 in 93% yield (Kahne et al., 1981). DDQ oxidation of (−)-16 gave (−)-TBE-5 ([α]_(D) −115°, CHCl₃) in 73% yield. Overall yield of (−)-TBE-5 from (+)-6 was 52%. Because, in the former route (Scheme 1), the overall yield of TBE-5 from 6 was only 14%, the yield was much improved by this route. (+)-TBE-5 ([α]_(D) +115°, CHCl₃) was also synthesized by this sequence.

Surprisingly, both enantiomers (−)- and (+)-TBE-5 show the same potency in iNOS assay (see Table 1). They also showed the same inhibitory activity against several cancer cell lines (data not shown). These results cannot be explained by racemization of both enantiomers in the living cells because it is chemically impossible for them to racemize. One possibility is that TBE-5 does not have enough potency for the comparison of both enantiomers.

c. Synthesis of Racemic TBE-6-9, TBE-5 Analogs with Electron-Withdrawing Groups at C-13

As TBE-5 shows good potency (0.01 μM level, similar in potency to hydrocortisone), the inventors contemplated that TBE-5 is a good scaffold from which to discover new, more potent TBE compounds. Thus, the inventors initially designed TBE-5 analogs having general formula I to discern the influence of substituents at C-13 on potency. Among them, TBE-6-9 and TBE-5 analogs with electron-withdrawing groups at C-13 have been synthesized according to the synthetic route shown in Scheme 4.

Ketal 17 was synthesized in 93% yield by ketalization of 6, followed by oxidation. Ester 18 (a mixture of two epimers) was prepared in 71% yield from 17 by methylation with Stiles' reagent (Finkbeiner et al., 1963) and subsequent methylation, followed by reduction with NaBH₄. Deketalization of 18, subsequent mesylation of the hydroxyl group at C-14, followed by dehydration with DBU gave 19 in 74% yield (Hirota et al., 1991). Isoxazole 20 was obtained in 97% yield by formylation at C-2 of 19, followed by condensation with hydroxylamine. Allylic oxidation of 20 gave dienone 21 in 58% yield. TBE-6 was obtained in 81% yield by cleavage of the isoxazole moiety of 21 with basic conditions, followed by DDQ oxidation. TBE-6 was synthesized in 13 steps (overall yield, 22%; average yield, 89% per step) from 6. Hydrolysis of TBE-6 with basic conditions gave TBE-7 in 77% yield. Amidation of TBE-6 with saturated ammonia in methanol gave TBE-8 in 64% yield. Dehydration of TBE-8 with thionyl chloride in toluene gave TBE-9 in 40% yield.

The inventors found that TBE-9 attains the initial target potency (IC₅₀, 1 nM level) in the iNOS assay (Table 1). TBE-9 is about 5 and 30 times more potent than hydrocortisone and TBE-5, respectively. Further testing of TBE-9 indicates that the compound is orally active at 15 and 30 mg/kg in in vivo studies using mouse peritoneal inflammation induced by thioglycollate and IFN-gamma and shows no signs of toxicity at either dose (FIG. 5). These test also revealed that TBE-9 is much more potent than hydrocortisone.

d. Synthesis of Racemic TBE-10, Simpler Structure Without the Double-Bond at C-13

It is important to examine whether or not a double-bond at C-13 is necessary for the biological potency because an additional Michael acceptor (13-en-12-one) might cause toxicity. Thus, racemic TBE-10 has been synthesized from 6 according to the synthetic route shown in Scheme 5. The inventors adopted a radical deoxygenation to remove the hydroxyl group at C-13 of 6 (Rasmussen et al., 1981). N,N-Thiocarbonyldiimidazole (TCDI) gave 22 in 75% yield. Tributyltin hydride gave new tricyclic ketone 23 in 88% yield. Isoxazole 24 was prepared in 2 steps (59% yield) from 23. Allylic oxidation of 24 gave 25 in 62% yield. TBE-10 was obtained in 66% yield by cleavage of the isoxazole with sodium methoxide, followed by DDQ oxidation.

Interestingly, TBE-10 is about 3 times more potent than TBE-5. This result is very important because it suggests that the 13-en-12-one functionality is not always necessary for potency.

e. Efficient Alternative Synthesis of TBE-9

Because generally, in in vitro assays using cells, a potency at the 1 nM level is enough to examine in vivo activity, the initial target potency for the TBE compounds was the 1 nM level. In order to test TBE-9 in in vivo assays it is necessary to synthesize more than 1 g of TBE-9. TBE-9 was synthesized in 19 steps from commercially available simple compounds by the synthetic route shown in Scheme 4. Unfortunately, this route is not suitable for the practical synthesis of TBE-9. Thus, a new efficient synthesis of TBE-9 was investigated. Eventually, the inventors succeeded in preparing TBE-9 in 6 steps from commercially available simple compounds (Scheme 6). This route is 13 steps less than the former route. This success indicates that the inventors could supply a large amount of useful TBE compounds at low cost.

The improvement on the reductive methylation incorporating 1 equivalent of water gave 23 in 63% yield from 26, a known compound which is easily synthesized in 2 steps and good yield from 2-methylcyclohexanone and 1-chloro-3-pentanone (Heathcock et al., 1984), although the conventional reductive methylation procedure with 26 did not give 23 at all. Allylic oxidation of 23 gave 27 in 64% yield. Double cyanation of the enolate of 27 with p-TsCN in THF successfully gave dinitrile 28 (a mixture of at least three isomers). TBE-9 was prepared in 67% yield (from 27) by DDQ oxidation.

Establishment of a synthetic method to convert 26 to 23 is pivotal because the inventors can shorten the synthetic paths of various analogs using 23 instead of 6 as a starting material. For example, TBE-10 can be synthesized in 8 steps via 23, although 11 steps were necessary when TBE-10 was prepared as shown in Scheme 5.

EXAMPLE 2 Novel Tricyclic Intermediates and Methods for Synthesis

The inventors have also synthesized new tricyclic compounds 23 and 29a, 29b, and 29c, which are useful and important intermediates for the synthesis of various TBE compounds having general formula II and the following example describes efficient methods for their preparation.

New tricyclic compounds 23 and 29a-29c are very useful and important intermediates for the synthesis of various TBE compounds in a few steps at low cost. For example, the synthesis of TBE-9 requires 9 steps via known compound 6 from commercially available 1-chloro-3-pentanone and 2-methyl-1,3-cyclohexadione. However, TBE-9 can be synthesized in only six steps via new compound 23 from commercially available 1-chloro-3-pentanone and 2-methylcyclohexanone (Scheme 7). Also, TBE-12 can be synthesized in a few steps via new compound 29b from commercially available 1-chloro-3-pentanone and 2-carbomethoxycyclohexanone (Scheme 8). In addition to the synthesis of TBE-9 and 12, various other TBE compounds can be synthesized from intermediates 23 and 29a-29c (see EXAMPLES 4 and 6).

Synthesis of Compound 23

The reductive methylation procedure on α,β-unsaturated ketone usually involves (1) the generation of a specific lithium enolate of a ketone by reduction of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketone with lithium in liquid ammonia containing no proton donor or a proton donor, and (2) reaction of this enolate with excess methyl iodide either in liquid ammonia or some other solvent system at −78° C. through room temperature (Caine, 1976).

According to this general procedure, several conditions for the reductive methylation of 26 were tried. Finally, reductive methylation of 26 using 4.5 equivalents of lithium and one equivalent of water and quenching the excess lithium with isoprene, followed by the addition of methyl iodide at 0° C. (see the detailed procedure in the EXAMPLE 3) gave the new compound 23 in 63% yield (Scheme 9).

Interestingly, the reductive methylation of 26 without a proton donor or with proton donors other than water does not give 23. For example, an attempt with about 3.3 equivalents of lithium in liquid ammonia containing no proton donor did not give 23 but only 35 in 44% yield. The other attempt with 4.3 equivalents of lithium containing t-butanol as a proton donor gave only 35 in moderate yield (Scheme 10).

Synthesis of Compounds 29a-29c (1) Synthetic Approach Towards Compound 29b from Acid 30a

Attempts of reductive methylation of a known compound 30a, which is prepared in good yield from commercially available 2-carbomethoxycyclohexanone and 1-chloro-3-pentanone by Heathcock's method (Kerwin et al., 1987), with about 5-7 equivalents of lithium in liquid ammonia containing no proton donor, followed by methylation with diazomethane gave 29b in 30% yield (average of 7 experiments) and many by-products. These by-products caused serious difficulty for the purification of 29b. An attempt with one equivalent of water also gave similar results as without a proton donor

(2) Synthetic Approach Towards Compounds 29a-29c from Methyl Ester 30b

Attempts of reductive methylation of 30b, which is prepared from 30a with diazomethane, with about 10 equivalents of lithium in liquid ammonia containing no proton donor gave the desired compounds 29a-29c in low yield and some by-products including enones 30a and 30c. These by-products caused serious difficulty for the purification of 29a-29c.

(3) Synthesis of Compounds 29a-29c from Methyl Ester 30b

Reductive methylation of 30b using 7.2 equivalents of lithium and one equivalent of water and quenching the excess lithium with isoprene, followed by the addition of methyl iodide at −78° C. (see the detailed procedure in the EXAMPLE 3) produced the new compounds 29a, 29b, and 29c in 38%, 15%, and 36% yields, respectively. These compounds can be easily separated by a participation method between an organic solvent and basic medium, followed by column chromatography.

EXAMPLE 3 Detailed Experimental Procedures for the Synthesis of Compounds 23 and 29a-29c

General Procedures. Melting points were determined on a Thomas-Hoover capillary melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. IR spectra were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 600 series FTIR spectrophotometer. ¹H (300 MHz) and ¹³C (75 MHz) NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian XL-300 Fourier transform spectrometer. The chemical shifts are reported in δ (ppm) using the δ 7.27 signal of CHCl₃ (¹H NMR) and the δ 77.23 signal of CDCl₃ (¹³C NMR) as internal standards. Low-resolution mass spectra and high-resolution MS data were obtained on a Micromass 70-VSE. Elemental analyses were performed by Atlantic Microlab Inc. All samples prepared for elemental analysis or supplied for biological evaluation were dried at 50-60° C. at reduced pressure (≦0.1 Torr) in a National Appliance Company model 5831 vacuum oven. TLC was performed with Merck precoated TLC plates silica gel 60 F₂₅₄. Flash column chromatography was done with Select Scientific silica gel (230-400 mesh).

(±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Decahydro-1,1,4a,8a-tetramethylphenanthren-2(1H)-one (23)

Ammonia gas was directed through a KOH drying tube into a 250 mL three-neck round bottom flask equipped with a stopper, dry ice/i-PrOH condenser connected to a nitrogen line, stir bar and dry ice/i-PrOH bath. The flow of gas was stopped after approximately 50 mL had been collected. Lithium (255 mg, 37 mmol, 4.5 eq, sliced ribbon), was washed with hexanes and added to the stirring solution, turning it a deep blue color. The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 20 min. Compound 26 (2.0 g, 8.2 mmol, 1 eq) and water (147 mg, 8.2 mmol, 1 eq) in freshly distilled THF (27 mL) were added dropwise and the solution was stirred at −33° C. (bp of ammonia) (with the aid of a CCl₄ bath) for 1 h. The solution was cooled to −78° C. and isoprene was injected until the blue color disappeared (approx 0.5 mL, 5.0 mmol, 0.6 eq), turning the solution white, followed by additional THF (10 mL). The dry ice condenser and bath was then removed from the system and as the reaction mixture rose to room temperature (RT), the ammonia was blown into a 5% HCl (aq.) trap solution as it evaporated with the aid of a nitrogen stream. To the remaining mixture were added iodomethane (10 mL, 160 mmol, 20 eq, d=2.28) and THF (10 mL) successively and the solution was stirred at 0° C. in an ice bath for 1 h. The solution was neutralized with 10% HCl (aq.) (20 mL) and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (4×50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (1×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vaccum to give 2.16 g of crude material. This off-white solid was purified by flash column chromatography [hexanes:EtOAc 7:1] to give compound 23 (1.34 g, 63%) as a colorless oil that gave semi solids upon standing: mp 34.5-35.5° C.; TLC [hexanes:EtOAc, 7:1] R_(f) 0.56; IR (KBr): 3049, 2929, 2864, 1707 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.37 (1H, t, J=3.8 Hz), 2.71 (1H, ddd, J=6.7, 12.6, 15.9 Hz), 2.41 (1H, ddd, J=3.1, 6.0, 15.8 Hz), 2.09-2.03 (3H, m), 1.82-1.28 (10H, m), 1.25, 1.22 (3H each, s), 1.08 (6H, s); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 217.4, 152.0, 118.1, 54.4, 48.0, 43.0, 42.9, 39.2, 37.9, 35.0, 34.5, 28.6, 26.4, 25.9, 22.8, 21.8, 19.8, 18.3; EIMS (70 eV) m/z: 260 [M⁺] (48), 245 (70), 203 (36), 175 (42), 147 (52), 125 (100), 109 (83); HREIMS Calculated for C₁₈H₂₈O 260.2140, found: 260.2134.

(±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-1,2,3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Dodecahydro-1,1,4a-trimethyl-2-oxo-phenanthrene-8a-carboxylic acid (29a), its Methyl Ester (29b), and (±)-(4aβ,8aβ,10aα)-3,4,4a,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a-Decahydro-8a-hydroxymethyl-1,1,4a-trimethylphenanthren-2(1H)-one (29c)

To liquid ammonia (100 mL) was added lithium (600 mg, 86 mmol, 7.2 eq, sliced ribbon), The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 40 min. Compound 30b (3.5 g, 12 mmol) and water (218 mg, 12 mmol, 1 eq) in freshly distilled THF (47 mL) was added dropwise and the solution was stirred at −33° C. (bp of ammonia) (with the aid of a CCl₄ bath) for 1 h. The solution was cooled to −78° C. and isoprene (approx. 1.25 mL,) was injected until the blue color disappeared turning the solution white. Subsequently, to the solution were added THF (17.5 mL) and iodomethane (17.5 mL) dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at −33° C. (bp of ammonia) for 1 h. The dry ice condenser and bath were then removed from the system and as the reaction mixture rose to rt, the ammonia was blown into a 5% HCl (aq.) trap solution as it evaporated with the aid of a nitrogen stream. The solution was neutralized with 10% HCl (aq.) and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (4×50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine (1×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 3.8 g of crude material. A solution of the material in methylene chloride (100 mL) was extracted with 5% aqueous NaOH solution (2×25 mL) and water (1×25 mL). To acidify the aqueous extract was added 10% aqueous HCl solution. A colorless solid was precipitated. The acidic aqueous mixture was extracted with methylene chloride (3×25 mL). The extract was washed with water (3×25 mL), brine (1×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo to give acid 29a as an amorphous solid (1.33 g, 38%) The methylene chloride layer including neutral compounds was washed with saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (2×25 mL), brine (2×25 mL), dried over MgSO₄, and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo to give a residual oil (2.33 g). It was purified by flash column chromatography [hexanes:EtOAc 3:1, followed by 2:1] to give methyl ester 29b (547 mg, 15%) and alcohol 29c (1.21 g, 36%) as crystalline solids.

Acid 29a: TLC: hexanes:EtOAc (2:1), R_(f) 0.37. IR (KBr): 3200, 2943, 1691, 1457 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.72 (1H, dd, J=3.1, 4.6 Hz), 2.73 (1H, ddd, J=6.3, 13.6, 15.8 Hz), 2.58 (1H, dt, J=3.2, 13.4 Hz), 2.41 (1H, ddd, J=3.0, 5.2, 15.8 Hz), 1.16, 1.06, 1.04 (3H each, s) ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 217.0, 183.3, 144.5, 122.4, 54.5, 48.0, 45.5, 40.2, 38.34, 38.27, 36.8, 35.0, 25.8, 25.5, 22.2, 21.04, 21.03, 18.0. EIMS (70 eV) m/z: 290 [M⁺] (20), 245 (26), 91 (100). HREIMS: Calcd for C₁₈H₂₆O₃ 290.1882. Found: 290.1880.

Methyl ester 29b: mp 90-92° C. TLC: hexanes:EtOAc (4:1), R_(f) 0.56. IR (KBr): 2941, 2858, 1716, 1445 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.68 (1H, dd, J=3.5, 4.6 Hz), 3.70 (3H, s), 2.73 m(1H, ddd, J=6.4, 13.6, 16.0 Hz), 2.60 (1H, dt, J=3.3, 13.3 Hz), 2.41 (1H, ddd, J=3.0, 5.2, 16.0 Hz), 1.06 (6H, s), 1.03 (3H, s). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 216.7, 177.4, 145.1, 121.8, 54.6, 51.9, 47.9, 45.6, 40.1, 38.6, 38.3, 36.8, 35.0, 25.8, 25.6, 22.1, 21.0, 20.0, 18.2. EIMS (70 eV) m/z: 304 [M⁺] (31), 245 (100), 159 (33). HREIMS: Calcd for C₁₉H₂₈O₃ 304.2038. Found: 304.2039.

Alcohol 29c: mp 109-110° C. TLC: hexanes:EtOAc (2:1), R_(f) 0.43. IR (KBr): 3454, 2931, 2859, 1645, 1448 cm⁻¹. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.67 (1H, t, J=3.8 Hz), 3.68 (2H, s), 2.68 (1H, ddd, J=6.6, 12.5, 15.7 Hz), 2.43 (1H, ddd, J=3.3, 5.9, 15.7 Hz), 1.20 (1H, d, J=0.6 Hz), 1.08 (3H, s), 1.06 (3H, s). ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 217.0, 148.0, 123.0, 67.0, 54.1, 47.9, 39.7, 39.0, 38.0, 37.1, 36.7, 34.9, 26.1, 26.0, 22.6, 21.8, 19.7, 18.1. EIMS (70 eV) m/z: 276 [M⁺] (6.1), 245 (100), 227 (10), 203 (6.1). HREIMS: Calcd for C₁₈H₂₈O₂ 276.2089. Found: 276.2082.

EXAMPLE 4 Design and Synthesis of TBE Compounds with Functionalities at C-8

Synthesis of TBE-12-19

The inventors are interested in TBEs with functionalities at C-8 as shown above for the following reasons: (1) Starting materials 29a-29c for their syntheses can be easily made (see EXAMPLES 2 and 3) and (2) insertion of functionalities at C-8 of TBEs is expected to improve their potency and pharmacokinetics because the balance between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity is shifted. Particularly, because TBEs with CO₂Na and NH₃Cl moieties at C-8 (e.g., sodium salt of TBE-19, TBE-18, etc.) would be water-soluble compounds, they strongly affect such parameters. The inventors have synthesized novel TBE compounds, called TBE-12-19 (Schemes 14-18). Also compounds 36-39 would be synthesized as shown in Schemes 19-21.

Synthesis of (±)-TBE-13 and 15

Protected alcohol 40 was obtained from 29c in 91% yield. Formylation of 40 gave 41 in 97% yield. Condensation of 41 with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave isoxazole 42 in 60% yield. Allylic oxidation of 42 gave 43 in 56% yield. Cleavage of isoxazole ring of 43 gave 44 in quantitative yield. DDQ oxidation of 44 gave TBE-15 quantitatively. Removal of TBS group with aqueous HF in acetonitrile gave TBE-13 quantitatively.

Synthesis of TBE-14

Tert-butyl amide 45 was obtained in two steps from 29a in 61% yield. Neat POCl₃ gave 46 quantitatively. Formylation of 46 gave 47 in 88% yield. Isoxazole 48 was obtained from 47 in quantitative yield. Allylic oxidation of 48 gave 49 in 83% yield. Cleavage of isoxazole of 49 gave 50 in 88% yield. DDQ oxidation of 50 gave TBE-14 in 79% yield.

Synthesis of TBE-16-18

Ketallization of 46 gave 51 in 88% yield. Reduction of nitrile group of 51 with a mixture of NaBH₄ and CoCl₂ in methanol, followed by acidification with 10% aqueous HCl solution, gave 52 (yield based on recovered 46 and 51, 85%). Boc₂O gave protected amine 53 in 73% yield. Formylation of 53 gave 54 in 99% yield. Condensation of 54 with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave isoxazole 55 in 64% yield. Allylic oxidation of 55 gave 56 in 67% yield. TBE-16 was synthesized in two steps from 56 in 79% yield. Deprotection of TBE-16 with formic acid gave TBE-17, quantitatively. Deprotection of TBE-16 with hydrogen chloride in ether gave TBE-18, TBE-17 hydrochloride, quantitatively. TBE-18 should be soluble in water.

Synthesis of TBE-12 and 19

Formylation of 29b gave 31 in 95% yield. Isoxazole 32 was obtained in 99% yield by condensation of 31 with hydroxylamine. Allylic oxidation of 32 with a catalytic amount of CrO₃ and t-BuOOH gave enone 33 in 55% yield. Nitrile 34 was prepared in 79% yield by cleavage of isoxazole with sodium methoxide. DDQ oxidation of 34 gave TBE-12 in 89% yield.

Treatment of TBE-12 with lithium n-propylmercaptide in HMPA, followed by treatment of 5% aqueous NaOH solution, gave TBE-19 in 30% yield.

Synthesis of TBE Compounds 36-39

EXAMPLE 5 Biological Effects of TBE-1-10

a. TBE Compounds Inhibit NO Production in Mouse Macrophages

The inhibitory activities [IC₅₀ (μM) value] of racemic (±)-TBE-1-10, (−)- and (+)-TBE-5, oleanolic acid, and hydrocortisone (a positive control) on NO production induced by IFN-γ in mouse macrophages are shown in Table 1. The following results were obtained: (1) TBE-9 showed the highest potency in this assay. The potency of TBE-9 is about 5 and 30 times more than hydrocortisone and TBE-5, respectively. (2) TBE-10 is about 3 times more potent than TBE-5. This result is very important as it indicates that the 13-en-12-one functionality is not always necessary for potency. (3) As TBE-3 and 4 are more potent than TBE-1 and 2, the bis-enone structure is very important for high potency even in relatively small molecules. (4) Both enantiomers, (−)- and (+)-TBE-5 show the same potency. (5) It was also found that these TBE compounds do not act through the glucocorticoid receptor (data not shown).

TABLE 1 Inhibitory Activity of TBE-1-10 in iNOS Assay (blocking of induction of iNOS by IFN-γ) Activity Compound IC₅₀ (μM) (±)-TBE-1 0.31 (±)-TBE-2 0.48 (±)-TBE-3 0.053 (±)-TBE-4 0.075 (±)-TBE-5 0.061 (−)-TBE-5 0.064 (+)-TBE-5 0.058 (±)-TBE-6 0.091 (±)-TBE-7 1.60 (±)-TBE-8 0.061 (±)-TBE-9 0.0021 (±)-TBE-10 0.019 Oleanolic acid >40 Hydrocortisone 0.01 b. TBE Compounds Suppress iNOS and COX-2 mRNA in RAW 264.7 Cells

TBE-3 suppresses the formation of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA at 1 μM in RAW cells. Both potencies were about 10 times less than CDDO (see FIG. 1, data for TBE-4 and 5 not shown. TBE-9 has not yet been examined.

c. TBE Compounds Inhibit Growth of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

TBE-3 and 5 inhibit estrogen-stimulated growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells (ER-positive) in a dose-dependent manner, over a range of 0.3-10 μM (see FIG. 2).

TBE-9 inhibits estrogen-stimulated growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells (ER-positive) in a dose-dependent manner, over a range of 10-1000 nM. The potency is about 30 times more than TBE-5 (see FIG. 3).

d. TBE Compounds Inhibit Proliferation of NRP-152 Prostate Cells

TBE-3 and 5 inhibit proliferation of NRP-152 prostate epithelial cells at the IC₅₀ 10⁻⁷ M level (FIG. 4).

e. TBE-9 Is Orally Active in an In vivo Model of Inflammation

TBE-9 is orally active at 15 and 30 mg/kg (administered once) in in vivo studies using mouse peritoneal inflammation induced by thioglycollate and IFN-γ and shows no signs of toxicity at either dose. These studies also revealed that TBE-9 is much more potent than hydrocortisone (FIG. 5).

EXAMPLE 6 Design and Synthesis of TBE Analogs

This example provides methods for the design and synthesis of various TBE analogs.

a. Design and Synthesis of Racemic TBE-9 Analogs

As TBE-9 shows excellent potency (1 nM level) in the iNOS assay, the present inventors contemplate that TBE-9 is a new lead compound and a good scaffold from which to discover new, more potent TBE compounds. Thus, the inventors have initially designed TBE-9 analogs having general formula III as shown above.

Specific target compounds 64-69 are also shown above. Acid 64 was designed as the inventors previous work revealed that a carboxyl group at C-2 also shows good potency in the iNOS assay (Honda and Gribble et al., 2000; Honda and Rounds et al., 2000). Salts of 64 are expected to have good solubility in water. Acid 64 can be synthesized 11 steps via 23 from commercial compounds by the synthetic route shown in Scheme 22.

Acid 65 and amine 67 were designed because their salts would have good solubility in water. Nitrile 66 was designed by analogy because a cyano group always enhances potency against inhibition of NO production induced by. IFN-γ in these triterpenoids and TBE compounds. Fluoride 68 was designed because there are many examples that fluorine enhances potency. Compounds 65-68 can be synthesized from the same intermediate 29b (or 29a), whose synthesis is described in EXAMPLES 2 and 3. As 65-68 have two cyano groups at C-2 and 13, both cyano groups can be introduced at the same time by double cyanation. Therefore, they can be synthesized in a few steps from commercially available compounds. Compounds 65 and 66 can be synthesized by the sequence shown in Scheme 23. Amine 67 and fluoride 68 can be synthesized by the sequence shown in Schemes 24 and 25, respectively. Likewise, compounds with the other substituents at C-8 can be synthesized according to a similar sequence.

Alcohol 69 can be synthesized from 26 according to the synthetic route shown in Scheme 26. Compound 79 can be obtained from 26 with CH₃I in the presence of t-BuOK (for example, Snitman et al., 1978). It has been reported that allylic oxidation at C-7 is very slow (Honda et al., 1981; Hirota et al., 1991), thus, enone 80 can be prepared selectively. Hydroboration would give 81 mainly because the β-face of the Δ⁵ double-bond is more hindered than the α-face.

b. Design and Synthesis of Racemic TBE-10 Analogs

The inventors have also used TBE-10 as a lead compound for synthesis of analogs for the following reasons: 1) TBE-10 is about 3 times more potent than TBE-5. 2) This indicates that the 13-en-12-one functionality is not always necessary for potency. 3) Diminution of a Michael acceptor might reduce the possibility of toxicity. The inventors have designed TBE-10 analogs having general formula IV, which can be derived in relatively few steps from intermediates 23 and 29c, see scheme below.

Racemic TBE-10 Analogs

Specific target compounds 83-85 are shown above. Dinitrile 83 (TBE-9 without a double-bond at C-13) was designed because TBE-10 (TBE-5 without a double-bond at C-13) is more potent than TBE-5. This compound can be produced predominantly by cyanation of TBE-10 because the α-cyano group (equatorial) is more stable (9 steps from commercial compounds) (Scheme 27).

A series of compounds 84 can be synthesized via enamine 87 (Stork et al., 1963) from TBE-10 (10-11 steps from commercial materials) (Scheme 28).

A series of amines 85 was designed for the following reasons: 1) In many cases, amine side chains like pyrrolidine, piperidine, imidazole, etc. affect biological properties, i.e., potency and pharmacokinetics, etc. of the mother compounds. 2) Salts of these amines are soluble in water. They would be easily synthesized from TBE-10 by Mannich reactions with amines and formaldehyde under basic or acidic conditions (9 steps from commercially available materials) (Scheme 29). If, for example, a fluoromethyl group enhances the potency of TBE-9 in the series of TBE-9 analogs with functionalites at C-8, and a piperidinomethyl group at C-13 enhances the potency of TBE-10 in the series of amines 85, compound 86 can be designed with both functionalities. Compound 86 can be synthesized from 37f (Scheme 30). Similarly, if other functionalities at C-8 and methylamine side chains at C-13 enhance the potency of TBE-9 and 10, respectively, the inventors can design and synthesize compounds with the relevant combinations.

c. Synthesis of Optically Pure TBE-9 and 10 Analogs

Surprisingly, both enantiomers (−)- and (+)-TBE-5 show the same potency in the iNOS assay (see Table 1). They also showed the same inhibitory activity against several cancer cell lines (data not shown). These results cannot be explained by racemization of both enantiomers in living cells because it is chemically impossible for them to racemize. One possibility is that TBE-5 does not have enough potency for the comparison of both enantiomers. Therefore, if analogs more potent than TBE-5 can be obtained among the TBE-9 and 10 analogs as shown above in Example 5-a and b, the inventors comtemplate the preparation of optically pure enantiomers to compare them in biological assays. For these purposes, optically pure intermediates 23 and 29a-29c must be synthesized. Optically pure enantiomers 23a and 23b can be synthesized from known optically active compounds (−)-88a and (+)-88b (Jabin et al., 1997) by the sequence shown in Scheme 31, respectively. Because TBE-9 is much more potent than TBE-5, optically pure TBE-9 is one of the target compounds. Optically pure TBE-9 can be synthesized from optically pure 23 by the same synthetic route as for racemic TBE-9 (see Scheme 6) [5 steps from (−)-88a or (+)-88b].

More recently, it has been reported that diastereomers 91a and 91b, resulting from ketalization of racemic 90 with 2(R),3(R)-2,3-butanediol, are readily separable by column chromatography (Grieco et al., 1998). It is contemplated that optically pure 29c can be obtained via diastereomers 89a and 89b from racemic 29c using the same method (Scheme 32).

d. Design and Synthesis of Tricyclic Bis-Enones with Side Chains at C-13 and/or C-14

The inventors have designed TBEs 92-94 with side chains at C-13 and/or C-14. The specific synthetic routes of 92-94 are shown in Schemes 33-35. In Scheme 33, hydrogenation should take place from the α-face at the side chain double-bond of compound 95 due to steric hindrance. Therefore, compound 96 would be the predominant product. Similarly, in Scheme 34, compound 101 would be the predominant product. In Scheme 35, geminal methyl groups of 94 can be introduced by Simmons-Smith reaction, followed by hydrogenolysis (Oppolzer et al., 1978). It is contemplated that the sodium salts of 92a, 93a, and 94a will be water-soluble compounds.

Moreover, to optimize the length and functionality of the side chains at C-13 and/or C-14, TBEs of the general formula V are envisioned based on the structures of 92-94.

e. Design and Synthesis of TBEs with Modified Ring B

Using intermediate 107, which is synthesized from 5 with methyl iodide and potassium t-butoxide, TBEs with oxygenated functionalities in ring B having general formula VIa-c as shown above are envisioned and can be synthesized as discussed below. Insertion of oxygenated functionalities into ring B of TBEs is expected to improve their potency and pharmacokinetics because the balance between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity is shifted. Proposed synthetic routes to specific compounds 108-110 are shown in Schemes 36 and 37. The inventors contemplate preparing both compounds 112 and 113 by selecting oxidation conditions. Compound 108 can be synthesized from 112. Epoxide 109 can be prepared by the same sequence using 113, followed by mCPBA oxidation. The mCPBA oxidation would give 109 predominantly because β-face of the Δ⁵ double-bond of 117 is more hindered than the α-face. In Scheme 37, hydroboration would give 119 mainly because the Δ⁹⁽¹¹⁾ double-bond of 118 is seriously hindered and the β-face of the Δ⁵ double-bond is more hindered than the α-face. If these modifications increase the potency, the inventors contemplate designing and synthesizing water-soluble derivatives of these compounds with carboxyl and amino groups.

EXAMPLE 7 Biological Evaluation of iNOS Activation

a. Reagents

Recombinant mice IFN-γ (LPS content, <10 pg/mL) were purchased from R & D systems (Minneapolis, Minn.). Polyclonal iNOS, IgG and peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody were obtained from Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, Calif.). All other chemicals were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo.). Inhibitory test compounds were dissolved in DMSO before addition to cell cultures; final concentrations of inhibitory test compounds in DMSO were 0.1% or less. Controls with just DMSO were run in all cases.

b. Cell Culture

Female CD-1 mice, 5-10 weeks of age were obtained from the Charles River Breeding Laboratories (Wilmington, Mass.). To obtain primary macrophages, female CD-1 mice were injected intraperitoneally with 2 mL of 4% thioglycollate broth (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.). Four days after injection, peritoneal macrophages were harvested and processed according to Bogden et al. (1992). Cells were seeded in 96-well plates at 2×10⁵ cells/well and incubated for 48 h with 10 ng/mL of IFN-γ in the presence or absence of inhibitory test compounds.

c. Measurement of Nitric Oxide (NO) Production in Mouse Macrophages

Nitrite accumulation was used as an indicator of NO production in the medium and was assayed by the Griess reaction. One hundred μL of Griess reagent was added to 100 μL of each supernatant from IFN-γ or inhibitory test compound-treated cells in triplicate. The plates were read at 550 nm against a standard curve of sodium nitrite. The protein determination was performed by Bradford protein assay (Ding et al., 1990).

d. SDS-PAGE and Western Blot Analyses of iNOS Protein in Primary Macrophages

For the evaluation of iNOS activation in vivo, female CD-1 mice were injected with 2 mL of 4% thioglycollate broth 3 days before IFN-γ stimulation. On day 3, test compounds were prepared in 0.1 mL volume of solvent mixture (DMSO: Ethanol:Water=2:2:1) and gavaged once to mice (6 per group). Then, 1 hr later, IFN-γ (0.5 μg/mouse) was given intraperitoneally. Ten hours after IFN-γ stimulation, mice were sacrificed, and peritoneal macrophages were collected and plated in 6-well plates. Cells were kept in incubators with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. for 12 hrs. The accumulation of nitric oxide in the supernatant was measured by the Griess reaction, as described above. To obtain total proteins, cells were washed and scraped into cold PBS, and then centrifuged at 500 g for 10 min at 4° C. The cell pellets were resuspended in 50 mM Tris-buffer (pH 7.4), and 100 mM NaCl, containing 0.5% of NP-40, 5 μg/mL of aprotinin, 10 μg/mL of leupeptin and 100 μM of PMSF, and then centrifuged to obtain whole cell lysates. The proteins (20-50 μg) were electrophoresed on 7.5% reducing SDS-PAGE and transferred in 20% methanol, 25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine (pH 8.3) to 0.2 micron nitrocellulose membranes. The membranes were blocked with 5% non-fat milk in Tris-buffered saline (25 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 0.02% NaN₃) with 0.2% Tween-20 (Tween-TBS) for 1 h, then incubated with antibody to iNOS for 2-3 h, washed and finally incubated for 45 min with a 1:10,000 dilution of secondary antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. The membranes were washed and then developed using a chemiluminescence system (enhanced chemiluminescence detection reagents; Amersham).

FIG. 5 shows the in vivo anti-inflammation activity of TBE-9 in CD-1 mice and demonstrates that TBE-9 blocks the activation of macrophages in mice.

EXAMPLE 8 Biological Evaluation In Vitro and In Vivo of TBEs

Standard methodology already in place in the inventors laboratory (Suh et al., 1998, 1999, incorporated herein by reference) can be used to evaluate the biological activity of newly synthesized TBEs using suppression of de novo synthesis of iNOS and COX-2 as endpoints. Briefly, primary mouse macrophages or RAW264.7 cells can be cultured under standard conditions and stimulated with either interferon-γ or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TBEs are added to cell cultures at the same time as inducers. Nitric oxide production in cell culture supernatants can be measured as nitrite accumulation by the Griess reaction. Analysis of levels of iNOS protein in lysates of primary macrophages or RAW cells can be done by Western blot analysis, while levels of iNOS mRNA can be done by routine Northern blot analysis. Prostaglandin E2 production is measured with a commercially available ELISA assay kit, and COS-2 protein and mRNA levels can measured by routine Western and Northern blot analysis, respectively. All these methods are well known in the art.

Assays are available to show activity in suppressing inflammation in vivo (ip, po and iv). The simplest assay for this purpose is to demonstrate that a new TBE can block the activation of macrophages (induced by interferon-γ) in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Mice will be injected ip with thioglycollate to stimulate the formation of macrophages, and these will be activated by ip injection of interferon-γ. A second in vivo system in which to text TBEs for suppression of macrophage activation is the granulomatous hepatitis model that has been used by Nathan and colleagues (Nicholson et al., 1999; MacMicking et al., 1995, all incorporated herein by reference). In this model, mice are injected ip with heat killed bacteria (Proionabacterium acnes), which results in the recruitment and activation of macrophages in the liver to form a granulomatous lesion. If such mice are challenged with LPS a week after injection with Propionobacterium acnes, they show a greatly enhanced response to LPS, as can be measured by high serum levels of nitrate plus nitrite (products of iNOS activity). The inventors will use TBEs to block the original formation of lesions in the liver as well as to block the response of activated liver macrophages to LPS. A third in vivo test is to evaluate the potency of TBEs against lethal inflammation of C57BL/6 mice caused by oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii. This model has been used by Dr. Kasper, Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, and colleagues (for example, Khan et al., 1997; Lee et al., 1999; Buzoni-Gatel et al., 1999; 2001, all incorporated herein by reference). Because overproduction of IFN-γ and synthesis of NO mediate this inflammation, inhibitors of production of NO like TBEs are expected to prevent early death in these mice.

Inhibitors of cell proliferation are known to be useful cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. The inventors contemplate testing TBE compounds for inhibition of proliferation of many malignant or premalignant cells (in vitro), e.g., human MCF-7 breast carcinoma, mouse L1210 leukemia, mouse B16 melanoma, and rat NRP-152 nonmalignant prostate epithelium. Furthermore, the inventors contemplate testing the TBE compounds in L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma in vivo.

The inventors also contemplate long term in vivo assays of suppression of mammary or colon carcinogenesis in rats. The inventors have been actively engaged for the past 20 years in the rat model for breast cancer that employs nitrosomethylurea (NMU) as the carcinogen and it would be straightforward to determine if any new TBEs were active in this model.

EXAMPLE 9 TBE Suppression of NF-κB Activation

Suppression of NF-κB activation by TBEs can be determined according to the methods described in Suh et al., (1998), incorporated herein by reference, using standard gel shift assays (EMSAs). Briefly, nuclear proteins can be extracted from macrophages or other cells by detergent lysis and then incubated with a ³²P-labeled NF-κB oligonucleotide probe containing an NF-κB response element, followed by gel shift analysis. For the new TBEs, one can determine dose-response, kinetics of action, and interactions with other known effectors. Ability to block specific inducers of NF-κB activation, such as interferon-γ, TNF-α, LPS, phorbol ester, etc. can be measured. The inventors contemplate adopting two approaches in the study of effects of TBEs on events leading to the degradation of IκB and activation of NF-κB. These two well characterized kinases that lead to the phosphorylation of IκB, namely IKK (IκB kinase), which phosphorylates IκB directly, and NIK (NF-κB inducing kinase), which can phosphorylate IKK to enhance its kinase activity.

The first approach is to use natural inducers such as IL-1β, TNF-α, or LPS to treat different cell lines. Lysates can be harvested and IKK will be immunoprecipitated. Using an in vivo kinase assay, recombinant GST-IκB (1-62) protein can be used to detect the activity of IKK, with or without treatment with TBEs.

Phosphorylated GST-IκB can be detected either using ³²P-labeled ATP in kinase assay, or using a phospho-IκB specific antibody through Western analysis.

The second approach is to transfect IKK expression vectors in HeLa cells, with or without added NIK expression vectors. After immunoprecipitation with an antibody against HA, IKK activities in the absence (basal activity) or presence (induced activity) of NIK can be measured as detailed above. The inventors also contemplate studying the effects of TBEs on these transfected kinase activities. Detailed methods for all of the above have been published by Rossi et al. (2000), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLE 10 Clinical Trials

This example is concerned with the development of human treatment protocols using the TBE compounds and analogs and especially the pharmaceutical formulations thereof. These compositions will be of use in the clinical treatment of various cancers, neurodegenerative diseases or inflammatory diseases. Although, the section below discusses cancers, one of skill in the art will recognize that this general scenario can be used for any of the diseases described in the specification that involve excessive NO or prostaglandin production.

The various elements of conducting a clinical trial, including patient treatment and monitoring, will be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The following information is being presented as a general guideline for use in establishing clinical trials using the compositions of the present invention.

Candidates for the phase 1 clinical trial will be patients on which all conventional therapies have failed. Pharmaceutical formulations of the TBE compounds will be administered to them intravenously on a tentative schedule of 5 days every 4 weeks. One of skill in the art will appreciate that one may administer the therapeutic formulation of the invention by any alternative route that is suitable depending on the nature of the lesion including administration by any method including local, regional, or systemic administration. Oral and topical applications are also contemplated. A composition of the present invention is typically administered orally or parenterally in dosage unit formulations containing standard, well known non-toxic physiologically acceptable carriers, adjuvants, and vehicles as desired. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous injections, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-arterial injection, or infusion techniques.

To monitor disease course and evaluate the anti-tumor responses, it is contemplated that the patients should be examined for appropriate tumor markers every month. To assess the effectiveness of the drug, the following parameters will be monitored: tumor size and/or bone marrow infiltration of the cancer cells. Tests that will be used to monitor the progress of the patients and the effectiveness of the treatments may include: physical exam, X-ray, blood work and other clinical laboratory methodologies. The doses given in the phase 1 study will be escalated as is done in standard phase 1 clinical phase trials, i.e. doses will be escalated until maximal tolerable ranges are reached.

Clinical responses may be defined by acceptable measure. For example, a complete response may be defined by complete disappearance of evidence of cancer cells for at least 2 months. Whereas a partial response may be defined by a 50% reduction of cancer cells for at least 2 months.

The clinical trials may be performed with the therapeutic agents of the invention alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs and other standard cancer therapies used in the art. The therapeutic compositions of the invention may be delivered to the patient before, after or concurrently with the other anti-cancer agents.

The typical course of treatment will vary depending upon the individual patient and disease being treated in ways known to those of skill in the art. For example, a patient with leukemia might be treated in four week cycles, although longer duration may be used if adverse effects are observed with the patient, and shorter terms of treatment may result if the patient does tolerate the treatment as hoped. Each cycle will consist of 5 individual doses, although this too may be varied depending on the clinical situation. Upon election by the clinician the regimen may be continued with 5 doses every three weeks or on a less frequent basis. Of course, these are only exemplary times for treatment, and the skilled practitioner will readily recognize that many other time-courses are possible.

Patients may, but need not, have received previous chemo-, radio- or gene therapeutic treatments. Optimally the patient will exhibit adequate bone marrow function (defined as peripheral absolute granulocyte count of >2,000/mm3 and platelet count of 100,000/mm3, adequate liver function (bilirubin 1.5 mg/dl) and adequate renal function (creatinine 1.5 mg/dl).

In one embodiment, administration simply entails injection of the therapeutic composition into the tumor. In another embodiment, a catheter is inserted into the site of the tumor and the cavity may be continuously perfused for a desired period of time.

Of course, the above-described treatment regimes may be altered in accordance with the knowledge gained from preclinical trials. Those of skill in the art will be able to take the information disclosed in this specification and optimize treatment regimes based on the clinical trials described in the specification.

All of the methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

REFERENCES

The following references, and those listed in the Appendix, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

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1. A compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A compound of the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 